ABOUT THIS ALBUM

Album Notes

Mary Witt, critically acclaimed singer and bass player for The O-Tones, celebrates the release of her first solo CD, Dance With Me. Sultry, soulful, and sassy, this album will make you swoon and kick up your heels.

The music spans various genres from swing and jazz to rhythm & blues and soul. It includes such songs as "The Very Thought Of You", "Almost Like Being in Love", "Teardrops From My Eyes", "Everybody Eats When They Come To My House", Ray Charles' "Roll With My Baby" and Frank Sinatra's"Come Dance With Me".

"Mary Witt is one of the most engaging and delightful song stylists on the contemporary American music scene"
-Marc Berman, Wilks Broadcasting

Mary moved from Atlanta, GA in 1993 to start The O-Tones in Northampton, Massachusetts. The O-Tones is a hot swing and rhythm & blues band from Western Massachusetts. With three singers as the core of the band, The O-Tones will melt your hearts with their powerful three-part harmonies. Whether they're singing their rendition of a 1940's swing tune, or belting out a more contemporary R&B number, Mary Witt, Ann Percival, and Zack Danziger, make each song they sing a hit. In addition to blending their tones as harmony singers, they are each extremely compelling solo singers. From sentimental ballads to upbeat soul and blues, they will charm you and make you want to jump and jive on the dance floor. Ann, Mary, and Zack also form part of the driving rhythm section of The O-Tones, lending their talents on rhythm guitar, bass, and lead guitar respectively. Walt Chapman, king of Boogie Woogie piano style and organ riffs, rocks the group along. Along with Pieter Struyk on the drums, the pulse of this band is fiery for dancing or listening.

On Dance With Me, additional instrumentalists are added to lend a jazzier sound - Chris Haynes on piano and organ with Dave Wertman on upright bass. Gary Maynard on trumpet and Chris Glanville on trombone lend their punch to the horn section along with Kerry Blount to give a big band feel to several songs. The horn section of The O-Tones adds pizazz to their mixed repertoire. On the classic soul numbers like "Mustang Sally", audiences jump to their feet once they feel the horns jump start the tune. Ike Turner's "Fool in Love" lends itself well to the drive of the winds and brass. Having the horn harmonies add their flavor to the old favorites "Makin' Whoopie" and "Almost Like Being in Love" reminds us all of the big band era from days gone by. Kerry Blount's tenor sax playing adds heat to The O-Tones varied selection of music.

Reporter Christopher Boucher of the Greenfield, MA Recorder says... "This music's so fresh, it almost defies description. Almost. One could, perhaps, call it a revue heritage or a celebration of bebop, pop, and swing. Maybe just a very sharp, very danceable CD from band members who know good music when they hear it. In the midst of all these styles, one thing remains constant. The music always has backbone-a strong percussion part, a solid rhythm section, and a beat good enough to dance to. I expect there'll be a lot of swinging and swaying going on..."

"This music may celebrate the tunes of yesterday, but with its assertiveness and modest, skillful approach, it's definitely music for today-and hopefully for tomorrow, too."

The O-Tones' versatility in styles of music make them the perfect choice for any occasion from swing dances to weddings and more. Those who enjoy dance tunes from the 50's and 60's, always delight in hearing familiar songs such as "The Way You Do the Things You Do", "Chain of Fools", "Dancin' in the Streets", "Midnight Hour", and "Ain't Too Proud to Beg". And for people who miss nostalgic numbers from the 30's and 40's era, the band plays such tunes as "Cheek to Cheek", "World on a String", "On the Sunny Side of the Street", "Route 66", and "Stars Fell on Alabama" (originally sung as a duet by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong). Whether rockin' on a hot upbeat groove or lilting a sentimental vintage song, The O-Tones' sound and styling is something you won't want to miss.

Sultry vocals, stellar arrangements of classic tunes and a rock-solid band of east coast luminaries that know how to swing and groove. What more is there? A stunning debut from a truly talented and sensitive interpreter of a time-honored genre. Thank you, Mary!